LSC-PA volley team ready to kickoff first season

By Kendrick E. Johnson

Published 1:14 pm, Thursday, August 7, 2014

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Alana Ailles, left, goes for a shot as Me'Shell Shears, center, and Kristina Merka move to block during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
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Alana Ailles, left, goes for a shot as Me'Shell Shears, center, and Kristina Merka move to block during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Head Coach Jessica Callahan motions to a player during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Head Coach Jessica Callahan motions to a player during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Ma'Shell Shears goes for a serve during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
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Ma'Shell Shears goes for a serve during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Head Coach Jessica Callahan talks with players during a break in practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Head Coach Jessica Callahan talks with players during a break in practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX

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The Seahawks volleyball team huddles up during a break in practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

The Seahawks volleyball team huddles up during a break in practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX

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Rondaysha Thomas puts the ball over the next during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
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Rondaysha Thomas puts the ball over the next during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon. ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Rondaysha Thomas, back, puts the ball over the net as Kristina Merka moves to intercept. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Rondaysha Thomas, back, puts the ball over the net as Kristina Merka moves to intercept. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Julia Mauer, background, leaps to get the ball over the net and past defenders during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
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Julia Mauer, background, leaps to get the ball over the net and past defenders during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Ma'Shell Shears celebrates a point during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
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Ma'Shell Shears celebrates a point during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Audrey Jones jumps to intercept a shot from Jenna Markey during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
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Audrey Jones jumps to intercept a shot from Jenna Markey during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Kelby Sparks, center, aims a shot between Rondaysha Thomas, left, and Jenna Markey, right, during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Kelby Sparks, center, aims a shot between Rondaysha Thomas, left, and Jenna Markey, right, during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Kelsey Harmel, Julia Mauer, and Alana Ailles, left to right, wait for a serve during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
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Kelsey Harmel, Julia Mauer, and Alana Ailles, left to right, wait for a serve during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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Kelby Sparks, right, sends the ball over the next toward defender Ma'Shell Shears during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX less

Kelby Sparks, right, sends the ball over the next toward defender Ma'Shell Shears during practice Wednesday. The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker ... more

Photo: Jake Daniels

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The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX

The Lamar State College-Port Arthur volleyball team hosted a media day at the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo taken Wednesday 8/6/14
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX

Photo: Jake Daniels

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LSC-PA volley team ready to kickoff first season

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The countdown is underway for the beginning of the inaugural season for Lamar State College–Port Arthur volleyball team.

In three weeks, LSC-PA will play its first game in school history against Cisco Junior College at home inside the Parker Center. That time crunch explains why Wednesday's media day was more of a practice than your typical question-and-answer session.

"I have been pushing the girls hard this week by putting them through three-a-day practices and love how well everyone has responded so far," LSC-PA's first-year head coach Jessica Callahan said. "Everyone on the roster has pleasantly surprised me at

least once this week, and I look forward to watching the girls steadily improve throughout the season."

The inaugural LSC-PA roster features four Southeast Texas players - setter Hailey Zampini of Port Neches–Groves, defensive specialist Kendal Savarion of Nederland, middle blocker Rondaysha Thomas of Beaumont and middle blocker Kelby Sparks of Hardin-Jefferson. Seven more players are from the greater Houston area, while one more hails from Central Texas and three have out-of-state ties.

The roster is made of many freshmen along with a few sophomores with junior college experience to show them the ropes.

"We want to prove everyone wrong who is doubting our team just because we are young and small," outside hitter Ma'Shell Shears said.

The Seahawks will debut in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Region XIV conference, which is considered one of the toughest conferences in the nation.

Region XIV was home to four of the top 20 teams in the nation in the final national poll last season. Two of those teams, Blinn and San Jacinto, battled each other in the title game with Blinn winning the NJCAA National Championship.

LSC-PA will compete in the Region XIV North Zone where they will join Tyler, Paris, Panola, Trinity Valley and Navarro.

"It is very exciting to be playing for Lamar State, and I am very glad we are setting the foundation for the future here," setter Hailey Zampinin said. "We want to prove this season that when you are dedicated, have heart and are committed you can still win despite not having the best recruits."

Callahan and her Seahawks are attacking each practice with a commitment to get better as a team every day, which is why they were more focused on practice than answering questions Wednesday.

"The stuff coach Callahan puts us through is way harder than anything I have ever went through in high school," right side hitter Julia Mauer said. "If we can improve our individual skills and work together each day I think we have a chance to upset many of the top teams."